During Two-Day Visit To USVI, Dept. of Interior Assistant Secretary Provides $2.8 Million In Funding

U.S. Interior Assistant Secretary Insular and International Affairs Doug Domenech, on Monday met with U.S. Virgin Islands and FEMA officials in St. Croix to review hurricane rebuilding efforts, the U.S. Department of Interior announced late Monday. Mr. Domenech provided $2.8 million in federal grants for rebuilding infrastructure and utilities. The funds made available will support upgrades at the local public schools, road rehabilitation in St. Croix, and meter reading for the Water and Power Authority (WAPA), Interior said.

“Hurricanes Irma and Maria greatly tested the resiliency of Virgin Islanders but they are stronger than ever,” said Mr. Domenech said. “My team and I visited this week with public and private sector officials on a wide range of issues including how to provide abundant and affordable energy to consumers for the future. Secretary Zinke continues to be a strong advocate for VI needs at the highest levels of the Trump administration.”

Mr. Domenech met various other officials over his two-day visit to the territory, with site visits at the Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center on St. Croix, and the Virgin Islands National Park on St. John. Office of Insular Affairs Policy Director Basil Ottley, who has accompanied the assistant secretary to the territory, will remain for recovery meetings through March 24, Interior said.

The $2.8 million in federal funds presented on Monday include $1.5 million for 1) structural repairs at U.S. Virgin Islands public schools to include mechanical, electrical, and plumbing upgrades, 2) $1.2 million towards rehabilitation of roads in Christiansted on St. Croix. This funding was made available through the Capital Improvement Programs of the Office of Insular Affairs in the Department of the Interior.

In addition, $178,996 was provided to WAPA for Hurricane Recovery Meter Reading Assistance. Hurricanes Maria and Irma destroyed nearly 90 percent of electric distribution services across the territory and completely destroyed the automated meter infrastructure, cutting electricity, and simultaneously bringing collection and revenues to a halt.

With critical assistance from FEMA, WAPA has conducted more than $4 million dollars in component repairs for systems and restored electric transmission and distribution to more than 98 percent of the territory. Until automated reading capabilities are fully restored, Office of Insular Affairs technical assistance is being provided to facilitate manual readings for WAPA for the next three months, Interior said. There are more than 41,000 meters across the three islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. The funding will provide an important jumpstart to much-needed revenue streams through timely billing and collections.